Tire changer apparatus

ABSTRACT

A tire changer including a seat expander for sealing beads of a tubeless tire onto a wheel. The wheel and unmounted tire are supported on a support table having a series of holes communicating with manifold chamber constructed in a segment of the support table. The chamber is selectively coupled to a source of high pressure air to cause the air to be directed into the peripheral cavity of the wheel around the outer rim for deflection into the tire cavity. The air pressure induced in the tire cavity causes flexing of the side walls of the tire to seat the beads thereof in the seating area of the wheel. The application of pressure into the tire is controlled by a foot pedal which is operatively connected to a valve imposed between the air source and the manifold chamber.

United States Patent [1 1 [22] Filed: Apr. 22, 1971 [2]] Appl. No.:136,343

[52] US. Cl. 157/1.1 [51] Int. Cl. B60c 25/06 {58] Field of SearchlS7/l.l, 1.24

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,552,469 1/1971 Corlessl57/l.1 2,900,015 8/1959 Harrison... 157/l.1 2,910,117 10/1959 Lamerson157/1.1 2,936,827 5/1960 Riggs 157 1.1 3,461,938 8/1969 Mueller 157/l.13,675,705 7/1972 Corless 157/].1

Houston Jan. 22, 1974 TIRE CHANGER APPARATUS Primary Examiner-GranvilleY. Custer, Jr.

Inventor: w Houston, Cincinnati, Attorney, Agent, 0" Firm-Petherbridge,&

Ohio Lindgren I [73] Assignee: Applied Power Industries, Inc.,

Milwaukee, Wis. [57] ABSTRACT A tire changer including a seat expanderfor sealing beads of a tubeless tire onto a wheel. The wheel andunmounted tire are supported on a support table having a series of holescommunicating with manifold chamber constructed in a segment of thesupport table. The chamber is selectively coupled to a source of highpressure air to cause the air to be directed into the peripheral cavityof the wheel around the outer rim for deflection into the tire cavity.The air pressure induced in the tire cavity causes flexing of the sidewalls of the tire to seat the beads thereof in the seating area of thewheel. The application of pressure into the tire is controlled by a footpedal which is operatively connected to a valve imposed between the airsource and the manifold chamber.

12 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 2 2 I974 smm' 1 or g FIGIATTORNEYS.

PATENTEDJANZZW 3.786.852

SHEET 2 OF 2 FIGG [ I INVENTOR.

I ROBERT w. HOUSTON flwwwwa ATTORNEYS.

I TIRE CHANGER APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates in general to a tire changer and in particular to a tire changerhaving a novel tire bead seating method and apparatus.

More specifically, the invention relates to a tire changing method andapparatus having a novel bead seating device for effectively seating thehead of a tubeless tire onto a wheel. The seating of the tire bead isaccomplished by the invention by directing high pressure air into thecavity of the rim for deflection into the tire cavity for flexing atleast one tire sidewall into a seating relationship with the wheel.

In recent years the tubeless tire has substantially replaced the oldertube type tire. Because of the peculiar design of a tubeless tire,difficulties have been encountered in effectively and easily seating thebeads of the tire on a wheel. The basic problem of seating tubelesstires is basically caused by its design whereby the inner tube memberpresent in tube type tires which provided a member while placing airinto the tire is eliminated. In tubeless tires, the bead of the sidewallforms the seal between the tire and wheel and thus it must besubstantially seated to permit proper mounting of the tire.

Generally, a wheel includes a bead receiving area that engages therespective beads mounted at the inner periphery of the sidewalls of atubeless tire in a sealing relationship upon sufficient pressure beingpresent within the tire cavity. A primary problem associated withtubeless tires has been the achievement of a suitable sealing betweenthe bead and the wheel to permit a necessary pressure to be introducedinto the tire cavity to provide suitable seating.

One common technique of sealing a tubeless tire on a rim has beenthrough the utilization of a strap of material which surrounds the treadof the tire in order to force the beads to spread and sealingly engagethe rim. Such a technique has been deficient since many tires have arelatively flexible sidewall and are not effectively spread in a mannerto seal the air pressure introduced into the tire. T o overcome theproblem of seating a tire bead, many various other techniques have beenattempted to insure that the air pressure within the tire adequatelyachieves seating of the bead. These techniques have utilized the use ofsealing chambers, sealing members and other structures to temporarilyseal the pressure within the chamber until the tire has substantiallyseated in its proper position on the wheel.

However, these sealing-type techniques have been ineffective as well ascumbersome and relatively slow in achieving the proper seating desiredof a tubeless tire.

One type of known tire mounting device has utilized air directing meansto seal a tire on a wheel and uses a continuous circle of air around thewheel. This type of system is undesirable in a tire changer apparatussince the other elements thereof can disturb or block the flow. into thetire cavity from the air directing means and thus hinders the tiremounting operation. Therefore, it is desirable 'to provide an effectivetire changing apparatus which includes a tire bead seating means whichachieves seating of a tubeless tire to a wheel in an efficientoperation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this inventionto improve the method and apparatus for changing tires and the like.

Another object of this invention is to improve the method and apparatusfor mounting a tubeless tire .to a wheel.

Another object of this invention is to reduce the time and effortrequired for mounting a tubeless tire to a wheel.

A still further object of this invention is to effectively incorporatean improved tubeless tire bead expander in a tire changing apparatus.

These and other objects are attained in accordance with the presentinvention wherein there is provided a tire changing apparatus whichincludes an improved tubeless tire bead expander for mounting tubelesstires on a wheel. The improved tire changer includes a support tablewherein a segment of the table spaced outwardly from the periphery ofthe wheel includes a plurality of angularly disposed holes which areadapted to direct a blast of air pressure into the rim cavity. The airpressure then travels around the outer diameter of the rim and isdeflected into the tire cavity. The rapid introduction of air into theinterior of the tire flexes the sidewalls to effect substantial seatingof the head into the seat area of the rim. The blast of air isintroduced through a manifold chamber formed beneath the holes in thetable and which is connected to a reservoir. A valve operable by a footpedal is imposed between the manifold chamber and the air reservoir toselectively introduce air pressure to the tire.

Air introduced into the tire is of adequate pressure to seal the tire tothe rim and thereafter the tire may be inflated by conventional means toa desired operating pressure. Thus, the operation of the tire mountingdevice of the invention permits the bead of a tire to be rapidly andeasily positioned on the wheel wherein the previously mentioned priorart problems are alleviated.

The plurality of the orifice means provided in the support table onlyextend for a circumferential segment around the periphery of a wheelwhereby the tubeless tire mounting feature of the invention can beeffectively incorporated into the tire changer of the invention. Thebead breaking mechanism and other elements of the tire changer ispositionable adjacent the table in the segment thereof where orificesare not present. Therefore, the invention includes a novel tire mountingfeature incorporated in the tire changing apparatus in a manner tocooperate with the other mechanisms included therein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects of this invention, togetherwith additional features contributing thereto and advantages accuringtherefrom will be apparent from the following description of severalembodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

' FIG. 1 is a perspective illustration of one embodiment of the tirechanging apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end schematic illustration with parts broken away of thetire changer apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top schematic illustration of the tire changer illustratedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional illustration showing the manifold chamber takenalong line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional illustration taken along line 55 of FIG. 3 showingthe valve connection to the manifold chamber;

FIG. 6 is a schematic top illustration of another embodiment of the tirechanger of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, thereis illustrated an embodiment of the tire changer of the presentinvention which includes a novel tire beading device for mounting atubeless tire on a wheel. Tire changer 10 includes a frame 12 whichsupports the various components of the tire changer. A table member 14in the form of a truncated cone is attached to the top of frame 12 tosupport a tire and wheel for tire changing operations. The tire T" andthe wheel W are indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 1. A series of holes15 angularly extend through table 14 and are positioned on a commonradius from the center of table for an angular segment thereof (to bedescribed in greater detail later).

A hold-down cone 18 is utilized to retain a wheel and tire placed on theframe and is adapted to be threadedly secured upon a drive shaft 20which is suitably driven from a drive mechanism within frame 12. Thecone 18 engages within the central opening in a wheel W carrying a tireT and is adapted to accommodate wheels of various conventional sizes.

Seat breaker mechanisms for breaking the bond between the bead on thetire sidewalls and the flanges of the rim of the wheel are providedadjacent the table 14 at a position to break both the upper and lowerbeads. The bead breaker mechanisms comprise a power means 28 operativelyconnected to an upper bead breaker 24 and a lower bead breaker 26wherein the drive means moves the two bead breakers with respect to eachother to simultaneously break the upper and lower beads of a tire to beremoved from the wheeel secured to table 14. The power means 28comprises a power cylinder 27 operatively connected by a linkage 29 toupper and lower bead breakers 24 and 26. The upper bead breaker 24includes a blade 34 which is adapted to engage between the upper rim ofthe wheel and the top of the bead of the tire for separation of the beadfrom the rim of the wheel. The blade 34 is pivotally carried on a lockplate 36 which is pivotally carried by a pivot tube 38 positioned on thepower column in a sliding relationship thereto. A friction lock shoe(not shown) secured to lock plate 36 is utilized to selectively securethe elements against relative movement for tire changing operations. Forgreater details of the operation of lock plate 36 and the lock shoe,reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 3,511,296 issued to Houston et al.

A handle 40 is attached at one end to blade 34 and includes links 41 and42 which are disposed in a general parallel relationship to extend to arear side of pivot tube 38. Links 41 and 42 are coupled together at theend remote from the brake blade by a conventional hand grip 43. Securedto the pivot tube 38 are a pair of spaced apart stops 45 and 47 againstwhich the links 41 and 42 of the handle engage during use. The beadbreaker mechanism also includes a hook stop 48 pivotally mounted at itsrear on lock plate 36. A handle 50 extends from hook stop 48 to permitactuation thereof with respect to lock plate 36. To engage the topsurface of the rim during normal operation, a swivel pad 48a ispivotally attached to the hook stop 48.

A pair of foot pedals 58 and 59 extend outwardly adjacent the bottom offrame 12 for actuation by a machine operator. Drive shaft 20 is actuatedby operation of pedal 58 and breakers 24 and 26 are actuated by theoperation of pedal 59 for breaking the bead and for separating the beadbreaker mechanism 24 and 26 apart. Again for a greater description ofthe operation of the tire changer of FIG. 1, the breaking operationthereof and associated elements, reference is made to the aforementionedHouston et al patent.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5, there is illustrated the improvedtubeless tire mounting feature of the tire changer of the presentinvention. The tire mounting device incorporated in the tire changer ofthe invention is utilized to mount a tire on a wheel so that the beadsof the sidewalls of the tire are seated in the proper areas of the wheelor rim.

The tubeless tire is mountable on the tire changer of the inventioneither on the wheel which has gone through the previously described beadbreaking operation or a new rim may be secured by utilization ofholddown cone 18. To replace or mount a tire on the rim or wheel mountedin proper position on the tire changer table 14, the sidewalls of thetire adjacent the beads are lubricated. The tire T is then positionedover the wheel W and a de-mount tool (not shown) is positioned on thetire over the flange of the wheel. The demount tool is thenre-positioned so as to force the upper sidewall of the tire over theupper flange of the wheel so that the beads of the tire may be expandedinto position and engagement with flanges of the tire. At this point inthe operation of mounting a tire, the wheel and tire relationship isillustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the bead of one upper sidewall of the tireis substantially in position in the proper flange of the rim at theupper side thereof.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, air holes 15 in table 14 are most clearlyillustrated. As shown in FIG. 3, the air holes or orifices utilized inthe embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5 extend throughsloped surface 14a of table 14 for an angular segment of the table ofgreater than The number of air-directing holes 15 provided on the tabledepends on desired inflation results and any number may be selected suchas 18 holes as shown in FIG. 3. As illustrated in FIG. 4, each of theholes extend through the slanted portion 14a of table 14 and extend atan angle to vertical so that the longitudinal axis of the holes isdirected inwardly toward the wheel. The holes may be directed at anysuitable angle with respect to the vertical axis such as, for example,approximately 25.

A manifold chamber 50 is formed beneath table 14 in fluid communicationwith air holes 15 and is defined by changer wall 50a and a selectedportion of the top of table 14 and a vertical sidewall 14b thereof asmost clearly shown in FIG. 4. Manifold chamber 50 extends around theperiphery of the table for a distance sufficient to be in fluidcommunication with all the air holes 15 provided in table top 14. Airpressure is selectively induced into air manifold chamber 50 through airinlet 51. Air inlet 51 is coupled to a conventional valve 52 which isattached in fluid communication with air inlet 51 as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 5. Valve 52 may be of any conventional design and it isoperated by use of a linkage 53 which is connected to a valve foot pedal54 mounted along the side of frame 12. The foot pedal 54 is mountedabove ground level in order to prevent undesired actuation of the footpedal by an operator.

An air pressure line 55 connects valve 52 to a reservoir tank 56 mountedwithin the frame 12 of the tire changer. Reservoir tank 56 comprises anyconventional reservoir tank which will retain a sufficient level of airpressure for effecting the desired flexing of the tire wall in forseating. To introduce the necessary pressure to the reservoir tank, afeed line 57 is coupled to an air inlet 58 which permits any source ofair pressure (not shown) to introduce air pressure into air inlet 58 tomaintain reservoir .tank 56 at a desired pressure level. The operator ofthe tire changer, having positioned a tire as shown in FIG. 2 with theupper bead thereof in substantial seating on the wheel, actuates thevalve foot pedal 54 to open valve 52 and induce air pressure fromreservoir tank 56 through fluid line 55 into manifold chamber 50. Thequantity of air pressure introduced into manifold chamber 50 then exitsupwardly through the plurality of holes 15 to enter into the wheel tireperiphery. The inward moving air pressure travels around the outerdiameter of the wheel W and deflects into the cavity of the tire T. Theintroduction of air pressure into the tire cavity causes a flexing ofthe lower sidewallito force the bead thereof to assume a substantialseating relationship with the rim. Therefore, the bead of the tire isquickly and easily seated and sealed into proper position on the flangeof the wheel by the tire changer of the invention. Any desired pressuremay be introduced into the tire and is generally a pressure necessary toeffect a substantial sealing of the bead. After the tire wall is flexedand the lower bead is in position on the wheel, a conventional air hose(not shown) which may be incorporated in the tire changer of FIG. I isutilized to fully inflate the tire to a desired operating pressure. Itis desirable that the pressure introduced into the tubeless tire forflexing the sidewall and for finally inflatingthe tire be within thenormal inflation limits suggested by the particular tire manufac turers.I

Referring now to FIG. 6, there is shown another embodiment of the tirebead seating feature of the present invention. The tire bead seatingdevice shown in FIG. 6 is idential to that shown in the precedingembodiments with the exception that the angular segment of holesprovided in the table top is substantially reduced. The air holes 15'angularly extend for an arc of substantially less than 180 and a fewernumber of holes are utilized for mounting tubeless tires under certaincircumstances. Although four holes are shown in the embodiment of FIG.6, it shouldbe apparent to those skilled in the art that more than fourair holes may be used if desired. The operation of the embodiment ofFIG. 6 is otherwise identical to the operation described with referenceto the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 5.

For convenience of illustration, the tubeless tire mounting apparatusand method of the invention has been described for-use with the tirechanger shown in FIG. 1. However, it is within the scope of theinvention to incorporate such a technique of mounting a tubeless tire ona wheel in any suitable tire changing apparatus.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferredembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for theelements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation or material to the teaching of the inventionwithout departing from its essential teaching.

What is claimed is: I

1. In a tire changer for mounting and dismounting tires from a wheelcomprising a wheel support means having an upper surface for supportinga tire and a wheel,

said support means including wheel positioning means for positioning awheel thereon,

wheel retaining means arranged to co-operate with the support andpositioning means to maintain the wheel position on the support means,

said upper surface of the support means including a plurality of airpressure directing holes lying on a common radius determined by thepositioning means greater than the radius of the rim supporting portionof a wheel,

each of the plurality of holes having a longitudinal axis slopedgenerally inwardly at a predetermined angle with respect to thepositioning means,

said support means including an integral manifold chamber positionedbeneath the plurality of holes to provide an air chamber integral withthe support means and beneath the upper surface thereof,

a source of air pressure coupled to said manifold for selectivelyapplying air pressure through said sloped holes against said wheel forair deflection into the tire for mounting the tire on the wheel in tirebead seating relationship.

2. In a tire changer for mounting and dismounting tires from a wheelcomprising a support means having an upper surface for supporting a tireand a wheel,

said support means including a vertical shaft for positioning a wheelthereon,

said upper surface including a plurality of air pressure directing holeslying on a common radius from the vertical shaft greater than the radiusof a wheel,

the plurality of holes having a longitudinal axis sloped inwardly at apredetermined angle with respect to the vertical shaft,

a source of air pressure coupled to said holes for selectively applyingair pressure against said wheel for deflection into the tire formounting the tire on the wheel in a seating relationship,

said support means includes a manifold chamber positioned beneath theplurality of holes and coupled to the source of air pressure, and saidupper surface possesses a truncated cone configuration.

3. The tire changer of claim 2 wherein the plurality of holes arepositioned on the sloped surface of the truncated cone.

4. An apparatus for seating the beads of a tubeless tire onto a wheelhaving bead receiving elements and a tire cavity periphery comprising,

support means having a surface for supporting a tire and a wheel,

air pressure transmitting means including orifice means extendingthrough said surface and defining an arc circumscribing a portion of theperiphery of the wheel,

the orifice means including a longitudinal axis which is sloped inwardlytoward the periphery of the wheel,

a source of air pressure coupled to said air pressure transmitting meansto selectively direct air pressure from the orifice means thereofbetween the tire sidewall and wheel for deflection by the wheel into thecavity to cause flexing of the tire sidewall and seating of an unseatedtire bead on a bead receiving element of the wheel, and

said source of pressure including a manifold chamber mounted beneath thesupport means in fluid communication with the orifice means,

the orifice means includes a plurality of holes extending through saidsupport means in a surrounding relationship to a portion of theperiphery of a wheel supported thereon,

the support means includes a first surface for supporting the wheel andtire anda second surface through which the plurality of holes pass, and

said first surface and said second surface form an upper surface havinga truncated shape.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said plurality of holes arepositioned on a common radius on a sloped portion of the surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said plurality of holes arepositioned around the table for a range of more than 180 and less than360.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said plurality of holes arepositioned around the table for an extent of less than 180.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said source of air pressure includesan air reservoir and a selectively actuable valve means positionedbetween the air reservoir and the manifold chamber.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said valve means includes footoperated actuating means.

10. A method of seating the beads of a tubeless tire on a wheelcomprising the steps of is directed through a plurality of holes.

12. In a tire changer for mounting and dismounting tires from a wheelcomprising a support means having an upper surface for supporting a tireand a wheel,

said support means including a vertical shaft for positioning a wheelthereon,

said upper surface including a plurality of air pressure directing holeslying on a common radius from the vertical shaft greater than the radiusof a wheel,

the plurality of holes having a longitudinal axis sloped inwardly at apredetermined angle with respect to the vertical shaft,

a source of air pressure coupled to said holes for selectively applyingair pressure against said wheel for deflection into the tire formounting the tire on the wheel in a seating relationship,

said upper surface possesses a truncated cone configuration, and ,1

said plurality of holes are positioned on the sloped surface of thetruncated cone.

Notice of Adverse Decision in Interference In Interference No. 99,010,involving Patent No. 3,786,852, R. WV. Houston, TIRE CHANGER APPARATUS,final judgment adverse to the patentee Was rendered Sept. 3, 1976, as toclaims 1 and 10.

[Ofieial Gazette February 1, 1.977.]

1. In a tire changer for mounting and dismounting tires from a wheelcomprising a wheel support means having an upper surface for supportinga tire and a wheel, said support means including wheel positioning meansfor positioning a wheel thereon, wheel retaining means arranged toco-operate with the support and positioning means to maintain the wheelposition on the support means, said upper surface of the support meansincluding a plurality of air pressure directing holes lying on a commonradius determined by the positioning means greater than the radius ofthe rim supporting portion of a wheel, each of the plurality of holeshaving a longitudinal axis sloped generally inwardly at a predeterminedangle with respect to the positioning means, said support meansincluding an integral manifold chamber positioned beneath the pluralityof holes to provide an air chamber integral with the support means andbeneath the upper surface thereof, a source of air pressure coupled tosaid manifold for selectively applying air pressure through said slopedholes against said wheel for air deflection into the tire for mountingthe tire on the wheel in tire bead seating relationship.
 2. In a tirechanger for mounting and dismounting tires from a wheel comprising asupport means having an upper surface for supporting a tire and a wheel,said support means including a vertical shaft for positioning a wheelthereon, said upper surface including a plurality of air pressuredirecting holes lying on a common radius from the vertical shaft greaterthan the radius of a wheel, the plurality of holes having a longitudinalaxis sloped inwardly at a predetermined angle with respect to thevertical shaft, a source of air pressure coupled to said holes forselectively applying air pressure against said wheel for deflection intothe tire for mounting the tire on the wheel in a seating relationship,said support means includes a manifold chamber positioned beneath theplurality of holes and coupled to the source of air pressure, and saidupper surface possesses a truncated cone configuration.
 3. The tirechanger of claim 2 wherein the plurality of holes are positioned on thesloped surface of the truncated cone.
 4. An apparatus for seating thebeads of a tubeless tire onto a wheel having bead receiving elements anda tire cavity periphery comprising, support means having a surface forsupporting a tire and a wheel, air pressure transmitting means includingorifice means extending through said surface and defining an arccircumscribing a portion of the periphery of the wheel, the orificemeans including a longitudinal axis which is sloped inwardly toward theperiphery of the wheel, a source of air pressure coupled to said airpressure transmitting means to selectively direct air pressure from theorifice means thereof between the tire sidewall and wheel for deflectionby the wheel into the cavity to cause flexing of the tire sidewall andseating of an unseated tire bead on a bead receiving element of thewheel, and said source of pressure including a manifold chamber mountedbeneath the support means in fluid communication with the orifice means,the orifice means includes a plurality of holes extending through saidsupport means in a surrounding relationship to a portion of theperiphery of a wheel supported thereon, the support means includes afirst surface for supporting the wheel and tire and a second surfacethrough which the plurality of holes pass, and said first surface andsaid second surface form an upper surface having a truncated shape. 5.The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said plurality of holes are positionedon a common radius on a sloped portion of the surface.
 6. The apparatusof claim 5 wherein said plurality of holes are positioned around thetable for a range of more than 180* and less than 360*.
 7. The apparatusof claim 5 wherein said plurality of holes are positioned around thetable for an extent of less than 180*.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said source of air pressure includes an air reservoir and aselectively actuable valve means positioned between the air reservoirand the manifold chamber.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said valvemeans includes foot operated actuating means.
 10. A method of seatingthe beads of a tubeless tire on a wheel comprising the steps ofpositioning a wheel and an unseated tubeless tire on a table, directingfrom a manifold chamber beneath the table through the orifice means asupply of air pressure against a portion of the periphery of the wheelto fill the entire cavity of the wheel, and deflecting the supply of airpressure of the wheel into the cavity of the tubeless tire to flex thesidewall thereof to cause seating of the tire bead onto the wheel. 11.The method of claim 10 wherein the air pressure is directed through aplurality of holes.
 12. In a tire changer for mounting and dismountingtires from a wheel comprising a support means having an upper surfacefor supporting a tire and a wheel, said support means including avertical shaft for positioning a wheel thereon, said upper surfaceincLuding a plurality of air pressure directing holes lying on a commonradius from the vertical shaft greater than the radius of a wheel, theplurality of holes having a longitudinal axis sloped inwardly at apredetermined angle with respect to the vertical shaft, a source of airpressure coupled to said holes for selectively applying air pressureagainst said wheel for deflection into the tire for mounting the tire onthe wheel in a seating relationship, said upper surface possesses atruncated cone configuration, and said plurality of holes are positionedon the sloped surface of the truncated cone.